If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Now onto the downpipes which are available also for the M278 V8 along with the M157. The downpipe upgrade includes test pipes and midpipes along with a heat shield, gaskets, and associated hardware. Pricing is $4,795 and they are titanium ceramic coated on the outside with copper ceramic coating on the inside. The midpipes bolt right up to the downpipes and also the factory axle-back system for seamless installation.

Key Features:

100% mandrel bent and TIG welded

Constructed of low carbon 304 Stainless Steel

Stainless steel heat shields offer the Weistec look and function

Easy bolt-on solution

Improves exhaust note

Supported Platforms

2012-Present CLS550 / CLS63 AMG

2012-Present E550 / E63 AMG (Sedan and Wagon)

Extended Support Coming Soon

Pictures:

Congratulations to Weistec for their pioneering of turbo and downpipe upgrades and offering these so quickly in the M157 engine lifespan well before anyone else.

Additionally, this is not the end of upgrades to come from Weistec for this motor. Stay tuned, plenty more in the pipeline. Congratulations and well done once again, quite the standard being set.

God sometimes its sooo much fun coming on here and reading some of the things people post. First there is nothing involving titanium at all it just sounds expensive. To say those dp's are have anything to do with titanium would be like saying MB cars painted in iridium silver are made of iridium, its just the name of the color. Here are my 550i DP's coated in "titanium".

I don't disagree with much that you've said other than the comments about titanium. I'm not sure what the actual metal is that Weistec makes the DP's out of, but the titanium coating is not just a color as you suggest, it's actually titanium nitride ceramic coating which isn't cheap. Do I think the DP's are overpriced ? Sure, but being first to market means you can charge whatever you want. And I'm sure they will be selling plenty of them.

I don't disagree with much that you've said other than the comments about titanium. I'm not sure what the actual metal is that Weistec makes the DP's out of, but the titanium coating is not just a color as you suggest, it's actually titanium nitride ceramic coating which isn't cheap. Do I think the DP's are overpriced ? Sure, but being first to market means you can charge whatever you want. And I'm sure they will be selling plenty of them.

I dont believe that's accurate as the coating place that did mine is about 5 mins from my house and I watched and photographed as they blasted, cleaned and coated them to get pics for my build thread and I had some things coated silver some ti and some black and it was the same coating he just mixed different color pigments for each batch. But even if the coating has trace amounts of ti the cost is dirt cheap to spray. $#@! I paid more for candy apple powdercoating.

I dont believe that's accurate as the coating place that did mine is about 5 mins from my house and I watched and photographed as they blasted, cleaned and coated them to get pics for my build thread and I had some things coated silver some ti and some black and it was the same coating he just mixed different color pigments for each batch. But even if the coating has trace amounts of ti the cost is dirt cheap to spray. $#@! I paid more for candy apple powdercoating.

I saw them in person when I was down there with my car. Perhaps @Weistec can clarify. But, I'm fairly certain that even if they were coated with 24k gold you'd still scoff at it. Remember, these are parts for a $120k car...not a $30k car. Most guys who can afford a $120k car are not going to bat an eye at a $5k DP.

I saw them in person when I was down there with my car. Perhaps @Weistec can clarify. But, I'm fairly certain that even if they were coated with 24k gold you'd still scoff at it. Remember, these are parts for a $120k car...not a $30k car. Most guys who can afford a $120k car are not going to bat an eye at a $5k DP.

Lol I dont care if they charge 10k like I said more power to them if people will pay it. But some people get confused and want to talk out there ass that it's because of X coating or z cnc'd flange and all I was saying is that those things arent as pricey as some would believe. Also I'm buying either an E63 or M5 this year and wont object to paying 5k for somethings but to hear some tell it on here they think weistec has 50k in r&d to recoup. But your right a fool and his gold are soon departed. $#@! look up john marcella manifold that dude will one off a manifold for you with 100's of hours of cnc and the most beautiful tig welding you'll ever see for huge pieces and will run you what this will. Some times I notice people who have money(or think they do) think expensive and overpriced mean exactly the same.

I don't disagree with much that you've said other than the comments about titanium. I'm not sure what the actual metal is that Weistec makes the DP's out of, but the titanium coating is not just a color as you suggest, it's actually titanium nitride ceramic coating which isn't cheap. Do I think the DP's are overpriced ? Sure, but being first to market means you can charge whatever you want. And I'm sure they will be selling plenty of them.

just for your info, they are not the first in the market with the DP. do a search and you will find that some one made them before Weistec.
As i know God motor sport was the first.

I saw them in person when I was down there with my car. Perhaps can clarify. But, I'm fairly certain that even if they were coated with 24k gold you'd still scoff at it. Remember, these are parts for a $120k car...not a $30k car. Most guys who can afford a $120k car are not going to bat an eye at a $5k DP.

Read my first post and you will see my view.
They are charging as being MBZ driver not for the part cost.

just for your info, they are not the first in the market with the DP. do a search and you will find that some one made them before Weistec.
As i know God motor sport was the first.

Kleemann released their pipes a year ago, and they cost $1295. They are just stainless, but they are a direct bolt-on. No cutting, welding, etc. And since RENNtech has posted that the stock up-pipe/test-pipe (whatever you want to call the one that bolts to the turbo outlet) flows just fine based on their testing, no need to reach up into the engine bay and replace those. Are the Kleemann pipes as attractive as the Weistec? No, not even close. Is the quality there? I have no reason to believe otherwise. Performance? Looks to be about the same.So in the end, you’re paying for appearance. If style and finish are worth $3400 to you, great! If all you care about is performance, then it just looks like a waste of money. Different points-of-view, and I carry the latter.

Not that expensive, either. The copper coating probably cost more. Ti-nitride ceramic is a very common treatment for high-wear parts, and a quick search and comparison will show the price-premium is not that big.

I'm not sure what the actual metal is that Weistec makes the DP's out of

It's treated stainless steel (per the information provided), and it's not 1-piece that's been CNC-machined. The down-pipe is probably 3 pieces (Weistec, please chime in) that are TIG welded. They grind down the welds to make them smooth and the finishing hides the discoloration.

You need to re read my post again. I never said it was made out of a solid piece of titanium - to the contrary I said it was not and if it WERE it would be "ridiculously expensive".
And there is very little that is out of my price range

Working on my cars is a hobby for me. It's how I relieve the stress of the week, and I get a lot of satisfaction from working with my hands. I'm not competing with anyone and I'm not trying to have the lowest, fastest, most powerful, most expensive, or most beautiful vehicles in the world or this forum. I don't race anywhere or anyone, though I will occasionally do a Hyperdrive or Test 'N Tune for fun and to prove to myself that I have been successful in improving the car; and I don't put my cars on display or in car shows. I've never had trailer- or track-queens; these cars are my daily drivers. As such, I take on upgrades I can complete in an evening, a day, or a weekend, and that won't have significant adverse effects on reliability.

I do not consider myself to be better than any professional tuner, and I have a great respect for those that can squeeze every ounce of potential from a motor, transmission, chassis, etc. I'm not in competition with any of them. I just don't get any satisfaction from paying someone else to work on my cars. As a result, I know I will never have the fastest, most powerful, or best looking car. I'm good with that.

I participate in forums such as this so that I can learn from other people's experiences and make better-informed decisions on the work I want to do. Occasionally, I share an experience. Even more rarely, an opinion. But it's just that - an opinion, based on my own interests, priorities, goals, and values. Some people have found my opinions useful or interesting, others not. No biggie either way.

*Disclaimer - the following is just an opinion.

The value of these forums is not just in the sharing of experiences, but of different points-of-view and opinions. Otherwise, what's the point? I don't know about anyone else, but it's kind of boring if everyone just sits around agreeing with each other. Personally, I love intelligent disagreement and discourse; even more so when it exposes ideas or options I've never considered.

Ridiculing, insulting, or discrediting another user's posts discourages participation, and not just from the one that was attacked. Eventually, you drive away all dissenting opinions and are left with just another useless tool.

This is all fine and dandy I'm just trying to explain to you they are well aware of the market. They also know what went into this. It wasn't a one day thing.

You aren't paying just for the material but also the limited market and engineering. There are multiple factors.

Kleemann released their pipes a year ago, and they cost $1295. They are just stainless, but they are a direct bolt-on. No cutting, welding, etc. And since RENNtech has posted that the stock up-pipe/test-pipe (whatever you want to call the one that bolts to the turbo outlet) flows just fine based on their testing, no need to reach up into the engine bay and replace those. Are the Kleemann pipes as attractive as the Weistec? No, not even close. Is the quality there? I have no reason to believe otherwise. Performance? Looks to be about the same.So in the end, you’re paying for appearance. If style and finish are worth $3400 to you, great! If all you care about is performance, then it just looks like a waste of money. Different points-of-view, and I carry the latter.[/FONT]